Children and Driver Safe After Bus Fire
In Montreal, five children and their bus driver were unharmed after an electric school bus caught fire on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred near Jean-Talon Street West and Victoria Avenue in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood.
The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM) confirmed the bus was transporting elementary students when the driver noticed an unusual odour. He safely parked the bus and evacuated the children. A separate bus arrived shortly afterward to continue the students’ route.
Fire Department Details
Multiple 911 calls were placed around 8 a.m., according to the Montreal Fire Department. A spokesperson said the driver had just turned off the heating system when smoke appeared from the vents, prompting evacuation.
Importantly, the battery system of the electric bus was not affected and was not the source of the fire. Four firefighters responded and quickly extinguished the flames.
Bus Manufacturer and Investigation
The bus was manufactured by LION (formerly Lion Electric), which faced financial difficulties in December 2024 and went into creditor protection. In May 2025, a group of investors relaunched the company, focusing exclusively on electric school buses in Quebec.
LION is conducting an internal analysis to determine the cause, while First Student, the parent company of Transco (which owns the bus), also stated it is investigating the incident. The company praised the driver for acting swiftly and thanked the fire department for their rapid response.
Similar Incidents
This follows a similar fire in November 2024 in Ascot Corner, Quebec, which also originated in the bus’s heating system. In that case, only the driver was present, and she escaped safely.
Parents Reassured
CSSDM emphasized that parents were informed immediately and reiterated that all transportation vehicles are subject to strict mechanical checks. The school service centre is working closely with the transportation company to determine the cause of Tuesday’s fire.
